Seriously. None of the colors scream winter or look too sweet and pastely. It's one of the best perks of of being a warm season (Autumn or Spring).

To help you get started, focus on browns, cream and greens.

Other seasonless colors that you need to create a basic wardrobe but should be careful with (don't place it near your face) are: black, dark blue (ex. navy), khaki/tan and light gray. And tomato red if you want a pop of color.

August 2011 Update: There are other neutrals similar to black that look better on you which you might want to invest in. Examples are: Dark olive green and mahogany/dark browns. Learn more about your best dark neutrals in the following links:

Seasonless Fabrics

To ensure you will get the most out of every piece you buy, secure clothes in fabrics like silk, chiffon, cotton, lightweight knits and wool and cashmere which can be worn throughout the year. You can of course wear cotton pieces all-year by layering them together and/or combining them with knits.

I Can't Wear Black!

by Anonymous

I do not look good in black which makes it hard for me to figure out my colors. I used to wear it, but as I am getting older (I'm in my 40s), the color is too harsh. I have medium brown hair and fairly light skin with green eyes. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

You're not alone :) at least half of the human population can't wear black because the color make them looked washed out, especially those with lighter complexions. It's also a fact that black will look harsher as you age because your overall complexion (skin tone, eyes, hair and veins) turns "cooler", but there are exceptions such as women with salt and pepper/gray hair and/or dark eyes.

Black - not your ideal neutral

However, it would be a shame to completely avoid black because it's a very versatile color. Even though the color doesn't suit you I still I believe that black is a very important staple color which most of your wardrobe should consist of. It matches with everything.

August 2011 Update: There are other neutrals similar to black that look better on you which you might want to invest in. Examples are: Dark olive green and mahogany/dark browns. Learn more about your best dark neutrals in the following links:

Keep black away from your waist down

The best advice I can give you is to keep the black away from your waist and up because wrong colors placed here will such the vitality out of your face, which is the first thing everyone including yourself notice.

Another trick is to wear earrings, headband, necklace, neck scarf, makeup that you know brighten up your face. This will counteract the harsh black color.

According to your description I think you are a Soft or Warm Autumn, but I'm uncertain because I need more details such as: if you have any golden highlights in your hair, undertone of your skin and exact eye color (for example: grayish-green, etc.).

If you need more help, please use the comment link on this page to submit your questions and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Best Colors For An Ill-Looking Girl

I am at my wit´s end and need your advice. My problem is that I have this 'ill' look about me, and it´s always been like that, even when I was a child but more so since I was a teenager.

I´ve always had dark-purple-is-brown-ish circles under my eyes and my skin is lacking that healthy glow. It´s more yellow-ish (with green-ish or olive undertones when I am really sick or weak) but looks ok in summertime.

Now, I´ve tried everything to look healthier. I eat right, drink enough most of the time, I´ve seen doctors and all. But they haven´t found anything. I am really self-conscious because of that. Looking like a drug-addict doesn´t help a woman´s self-esteem. Since I don´t want to look like a 25-year old living corps for the rest of my life, I have to resort to your color magic ;).

I have noticed that any wrong colors make me look very washed out but I can´t completely determine what season I am. Someone who had experience in seasons told me I was a summer but I don´t think so, I´ve tried all of those colors and every one of them makes me look very faded and even more ill. I THINK I could be a darker spring and a lighter autumn (some of those colors really suit me but not all) but I am not sure. That´s why I´ve sent you my picture.

I tan rather easily and it´s more of a golden honey-ish tan. My eyes are Light brown-hazel with little olive in them (but you don´t really notice much unless I wear olive. See, that´s another thing, Olive does wonders for my eyes but makes my skin look even yellower, unless I´m really tanned). My natural hair color is middle brown (darker in winter) with a reddish-copperish glow when the sun hits it. I´ve noticed that Honey and Amber highlights suit me more than blonde or real red or pepper hues. I think my skin tone is comparable to Heidi Klum`s but that´s just me guessing.

I am sorry this letter is so long! But I hope you have some advice for me and my season. I really appreciate all your work and research and have been a fan of your blog for quite some time. Thanks for all you do! I love the clothing advice :).

Please, please help me! I really want to look as healthy in my face as I feel!

I REALLY need your help. While I know there are a LOT of people asking you for advice on their best colors, I hope you aren´t exasperated by now ;).

Tabea

Hello Tabea, it's a bit funny because I also 'suffer' from the same problem as you -- brownish eye circles that make me look ill, especially without makeup.

Your dark eye circlesI see that your eyes have some discoloration, most likely hyperpigmentation which is quite common among olive-skinned and women of color. However I found that it helps to apply fading cream or a Vitamin C serum and intake a solid daily dose of Vitamin C to brighten up the area and evening your skintone.

Analyzing your coloringI can see that you have a warm, earthy complexion. You're right, you're definitely not a Summer nor a Winter. Summer colors are too soft and light, and Winter color too strong for your complexion.

This leaves me thinking that you're a Spring or an Autumn -- however the lightest groups would look too soft on your skintone. The darker ones (like Deep Autumn) over empower your face.

You need something dark, warm, slightly bright and golden, which makes me believe that you're a Warm Spring (or Warm Autumn, I'm not sure. Sometimes several pictures are needed to determine your exact season). It also means that you can borrow colors from the Warm Autumn group as well because they share the similar 'Warm' color trait. This explains why you need to wear colors with a yellowish undertone to them.

Warm Spring Color Palette

Warm Autumn Color Palette

You need to wear these colors close to your face to improve the look of your complexion. The beauty of wearing your best colors is that they make it so that you don't need to wear a lot of makeup - your personal colors smooths out imperfections, but not completely of course.

You can also use makeup like for example blush (in your best colors) and some concealer for a quick fix. If you're out in the sun remember to apply sunscreen or sunblock around your eyes to prevent the hyperpigmentation from worsening.

Thank you for submitting your picture. Did you know that many fair-skinned women envy others that have an olive skintone because we tan easily and have a golden glow to our face all-year around? ;-) You have a pretty face and I think you can enhance it by putting your best colors close to your face (top, earrings, necklace, scarf) :)